First Prize of $250 cash, goes to Jo Watkins of Ringwood, for her adorable little bunny sleeping in the blackberry bush.

The best beanie prize goes to Marianne Alcock of Brisbane for her very cute koala beanie. Marianne has won a $25 voucher kindly donated by Bendigo Woollen Mills.

The best soft toy was won by Joanne Moore of Brisbane, for 'Lamb-ee', who's been eating too much lavender at the Lavender Farm, and has fallen asleep. Joanne has won a $25 voucher from Bendigo Woollen Mills

The People's Choice prize has also been won by Joanne Moore of Brisbane, for her 'Finding Nemo' tea cosy. She wins a $50 Spotlight voucher for her colourful coral creation.

Raffle Prize winners

Prize 1. Quilt, won by Muriel Strahan

Prize 2. Watercolour painting, won by Robyn Taylor

Prize 3. Hamper, won by Sue H.
Prize 4. Miniature garden in a teacup, won by Dawn Develyn.
Prize 5. Hamper, won by Chris Blundell.
Prize 6. Hamper, won by Mark Sawyers
Prize 7. Hamper, won by Cathy.

Wednesday, 5 July 2017

Come and see all the amazing tea cosies, and the 40 beautiful quilts that are adorning the walls of the lavender drying shed. The tea cosies are all for sale, as well as beanies, soft toys, and other assorted locally handcrafted items.

Wednesday, 1 March 2017

Tea Cosy and Soft Toy Competition 2018.

This is an annual fundraiser for the Cancer Council

So far, we've raised over $31,000

Best tea cosy, $250 cash prize

Use your knitting, sewing, felting, embroidery, patchwork, wood carving, welding, quilting, or crocheting skills to Craft a Cure for Cancer.Add a 5cm square card with your entry, and write a few lines on something special or interesting about the tea cosy that you've made; the person who buys it would like to know....Pin a note on the tea cosy with your name and phone number, so we can contact you if you are a prize winner.

All tea cosy competition entries must be received by Friday, 29th June, 2018.If you are donating a tea cosy, soft toy, or other craft item, but don't wish to be eligible for a prize, please send your items to us by Monday 9th July.

All craft work received will be on display and for sale at Warratina Lavender Farm,

To make a donation to the Tea Cosy Competition fundraising effort for the Cancer Council, go to https://myownway2017.everydayhero.com/au/craftacure.

Please note that the tea cosies, beanies and toys that you send to us cannot be returned. They will be displayed and sold at Warratina Lavender Farm, to raise money for the Cancer Council. Any that remain unsold after the display will be sold at Orchards Café, Hopetoun Rd, Park Orchards, or at markets and other events from time to time. All money raised will be donated to the Cancer Council.

Monday, 25 July 2016

Tea cosy competition results for 2016Thanks to everyone involved; our Cancer Council fundraiser has added a further $7000 to the previous total, from the 9 days of the tea cosy display at the Warratina Lavender Farm. Since we began the Tea Cosy Competition in 2014; we've raised $20,000 for the Cancer Council. Over $9000 has been raised since October 2015. Go to https://my-own-way.everydayhero.com.au/craftacure.

The winner of the 'Best Tea Cosy' was this very well made, and exceptionally imaginative cosy by Kay Whitney, featuring the frog couple, Lily and Leroy.

In second place, is this cosy by Angela Leung. Angela collected 2600 tea bag strings; she tied them together, and knitted them into this cute little cosy. The red flowers were made by dyeing the strings with beetroot.

In third place is the peacock by Marianne Alcock. He is beautiful; and not only did he win the judges vote for third place; he came second in the people's choice vote.

The Dalek by Janet Gilbert won the prize for the best toy or tea cosy in a sci-fi theme.

The soft toy prize was won by sisters, Brooke and Laura Driessen, with this selection of little dinosaurs and unipigs. Each one has its own tag with an amusing name and bio for each of the little characters. Very cute, and all sold in a flash.

The childrens' prize of a bank account with Bendigo Bank wasn't won...we didn't get any kid's entries this year.

People's choice winner is this little pixie house by Joanne Moore.

Well done to all our winners, and to all the people who sent in tea cosies and toys.

Knit 2 rows. Mark the positions for
paws by tying a length of coloured yarn on the thread between the 9th
and 10th stitches, and between the 17th and 18th
stitches.
Continue knitting until the work measures 10 cm.
Start decreasing: Row 1. K2, K2tog, K to the last 4 stitches, K2tog, K2.Row 2.knit.
Repeat these 2 rows till 22 sts remain.

Tie a length of coloured yarn on to
the thread that lies between the 10th and 11th stitches.
This marks the position where the centre back of the head will be attached
later.

Stitch the
front and back together by joining 2½cm at the base. Leave a 10cm gap each side
for the handle and spout, then join across the top.

Head

Using 2strands of yarn together, cast on 20 sts.

Knit 4 rows

Next row, K1, (increase in next st,
K1) to the end of the row. (30 stitches).

Continue, knitting every row without
shaping until the work measures 6 cm.

Decrease on each row as follows:

Row 1. K8, K2 tog, K10, K2 tog, K8

Row 2. K8, K2 tog, K8, K2 tog, K8

Row 3. K8, K2 tog, K6, K2 tog, K8

Row 4. K8, K2 together, tie a
coloured yarn onto the thread between the 9th and 10th
stitches. K4, tie a coloured yarn onto
the thread between the 13th and 14th stitches, K2
together, K8. These two pieces of yarn mark the position of the eyes.

Row 5. K8, K2 tog, K2, K2 tog, K8

Row 6. K2, K2 tog, knit to last 4
stitches, K2 tog, K2.
Repeat this row till 10 sts remain.
K2 tog all along next row, (5 sts)
Cast off. Tie a coloured thread on the middle stitch of the cast off row. This
marks the position where the nose is attached.

Fold the head in
half, so that the two side edges are together.

With a length of
yarn, sew along the outer edges of the work from the nose marker on the cast-off
edge, all the way along the side edge. Leave the cast-on edge open. With a 60cm
length of plain yarn in a matching colour, sew a running stitch around the cast
on edge, leaving it open.

The marker on the
cast off edge is the spot to place the nose. The side seam of the work is the
lower edge of the head. On the upper side, the eyes and the nose are positioned
to form a 4cm equilateral triangle. The markers will help find the approximate
spots, but it’s a good idea to make some small adjustments to the positions to
give a cute appearance. Attach the nose and eyes.

Using some
polyester fibre, stuff the head quite firmly, and close by pulling the ends of
the running stitch. Fasten, but don’t cut off the excess yarn. To give the face
a bit more shape, with a darning needle, and one piece of yarn at a time, take
a small stitch, entering from the back of the head through to the front, next
to an eye, on the nose side, and return the needle to the back of the head. Repeat
for the other eye. Pull the threads just enough to give the face a friendly
expression. Fasten off. The remaining ends of the yarn can then be used to
attach the head to the body.

Position the centre
back of the head on to the marker on the front side of the body. Squash the
head a little with your fingers, and sew onto the body, leaving the top half of
the head free.

Tail

Using a pair of double pointed needles, cast on 3 sts, and work an I-cord for 8
cm.
In case you need reminding of how to do an I-cord, it goes like this......
knit 3, don't turn your work, just push it across to the other end of the
needle, and K3 again. Just repeat this for the length required, and cast off.
Attach to the back of the cosy in the marked spot, or where it looks right to
you. The tail will curl a little by itself.

Ears

Using two strands of yarn, cast on 6 sts. Knit one row. Second row, increase
one stitch at each end; 8 sts.
Knit 4 rows.
Start decreasing.
In the middle of each row; decrease one stitch per row until 3 sts remain.
Knit 3 rows. Cast off.
To place the ears, first measure 3cm vertically up from the top of the eye. Pin
each ear in position, 3-4 cm above the eye; adjust slightly to give a pleasing
appearance. The ears are sewn on with the cast-off edge pointing to the outside
of the face; when sewn; flip over.

Paws

Cast on 10sts with 2 strands of yarn together, on 6mm needles.
Knit 6 rows.
Cast off.
Join side seams, run a gathering stitch around the top, pull tight; stuff with
the tails of the yarns...the paws are little and this is probably enough
stuffing. You can add a bit of polyester fibre fill if you think it needs it.
Run another gathering stitch around the open end, pull tight to form a ball.
Attach the paws to the front of the cosy at the marked spots.

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About Me

I started fundraising for the Cancer Council after my daughter died from breast cancer in 2009, aged 35 years. Most of us these days have been touched by cancer; finding a cure is what we need.
I've always loved knitting and sewing and crochet; so to 'craft a cure' for cancer is the way to go! Please help our fundraising effort by making a tea cosy for the competition, and send it to PO Box 109, East Ringwood, Vic, 3135